Friday Focus - a little more thought on prayer

The last couple of Fridays we have looked at the subject of prayer.  This spiritual discipline keeps popping up in my internet searches and internal thoughts as I continue on with a local church that is conducting a 21 day early morning prayer event.  

I love recommended great resources and one of them is the chapel services held at Dallas Theological Seminary.  Here is the link to the YouTube session I recently watched:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlMcE2IElD4&t=1490s  

The speaker is the President of DTS, Dr. Mark Bailey, and his topic, of course, was prayer.  His opening verse was 2 Timothy 2:1 which reads,

"First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,..."

He noted that these are four different Greek words for prayer and therefore 4 different types of prayer.  My mind wandered to thinking about how many types of prayer there are.  I keyed over to another recommended site that I have mentioned before www.gotquestions.org.  A quick utilization of the search bar with my question, "How many types of prayer are there?" brought up a list.

1.  The prayer of faith - James 5:15

The prayer of faith will save the sick person,

and the Lord will raise him up;

if he has committed sins,

he will be forgiven.

2.  The prayer of agreement (corporate) - Acts 1:14

They all were continually united in prayer,

along with the women,

including Mary the mother of Jesus,

and His brothers.

3.  The prayer of request (supplication) - Ephesians 6:18

Pray at all times in the Spirit

with every prayer and request,

and stay alert with all perseverance

and intercession for all the saints.

4.  The prayer of thanksgiving - Philippians 4:6

Don't worry about anything,

but in everything,

through prayer and petition with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God.

5.  The prayer of worship - Acts 13:2, 3

(note:  the prayer of thanksgiving is about what God has done and the prayer of worship is about who God is)

As they were worshipping the Lord and fasting,

the Holy Spirit said,

"Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul

for the work to which I have called them."

Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them,

they sent them off.

6.  The prayer of consecration - Matthew 26:39

Going a little farther,

He fell facedown and prayed,

"My Father; if it is possible,

let this cup pass from Me.

Yet not as I will, but as You will."

7.  The prayer of intercession - John 17:9, 20

"I pray for them.

I am not praying for the world

but for those You have given to Me,

because they are Yours.

I pray not only for these,

but also for those who believe in Me

through their word."

8.  The prayer of imprecation - Psalm 69:22, 23

(note:  a prayer of imprecation is to call upon God to show His holiness against the evil ones opposing His advancement and hindering and hurting others)

Let their table set before them be a snare,

and let it be a trap for their allies.

Let their eyes grow too dim to see,

and let their hips continually quake.

So there is a lot to prayer, our conversations with God.  Each one of these points could warrant a whole Bible study or sermon.  I see how many of these points are married together in a prayer so many times a prayer is not solely of just one kind.  

Let me end this post with a prayer request of you.  It is a prayer of request and intercession.  A young man, married and with one child, serving our country was in the bomb blast this week in Syria.  He was one of the survivors but is in critical condition.  His wife is on her way to Germany to meet up with him.  The young man's name is Jonathon and he is a graduate of West Point, an army ranger.  His parents are a part of the church we served in Gaylord.  Here is his family picture and would you pray with me for them?

Adam